Care that supports growth, connection, and change
Why We Started Between Us Counseling
At its heart, Between Us Counseling was founded on a simple but powerful belief: everyone deserves a safe, judgment-free place to talk, be heard, and truly heal. The journey began when founders Patrick and Silvia Travis noticed that too many people felt lost or disconnected in traditional therapy settings, walking out feeling like a diagnosis instead of a unique human being with a unique story. They wanted to change that.
They established this practice in Stoneham, MA, with a clear vision: to provide authentic, collaborative mental health care for adults navigating the very real stresses of modern life... career pressures, relationship struggles, major transitions, and everything in between. Our mission is to ensure that every single client feels seen, understood, and genuinely respected. We believe the best long-term results don't come from a one-size-fits-all approach. They come from building a solid, trusting relationship between client and counselor, where you feel safe enough to be honest and vulnerable.
This commitment to personalized care, informed by empathy, compassion, curiosity, humor, authenticity, and deep respect, is what drives us every single day. We're here not just to help you cope with what's hard, but to help you grow, set meaningful goals, and build the life you actually want.
What We Stand For
Our entire philosophy is built around empowering you, the client. We operate under a clinical and compassionate approach, which means we blend science-backed therapeutic methods with genuine warmth and human understanding. This isn't therapy by the book, it's therapy that works for your real life. We use a strengths-based and collaborative approach, focusing on the resilience you already possess rather than just cataloging the challenges you face.
Our belief is simple: therapy works best when it's customized to you. That's why we take the time to truly listen to your goals, your struggles, and your needs, tailoring each session so it actually works for your unique circumstances. We stand for radical authenticity and respect, creating a confidential environment where you feel secure enough to be completely honest about where you're at, the good, the messy, and everything in between.
This dedication to empathy and individualized care is how we ensure the best possible outcomes for our clients throughout Massachusetts. You're not a number or a diagnosis here. You're a person, and you deserve to be treated like one.
Patrick's Journey
Patrick graduated from Cambridge College with a Master's in Mental Health Counseling, but his path to becoming a therapist wasn't traditional, and that's what makes his approach so relatable. Before entering the mental health field, Patrick spent years working in construction, IT in the finance industry, and even served as a union steward for the Federal Government. This wealth of real-world experience means he truly understands the pressures of burnout, career changes, workplace stress, and the feeling of being stuck in a job that's draining your soul.
This background heavily informs his dedicated career counseling work and his deep commitment to seeing people as whole individuals, not just diagnoses or symptoms. Patrick has extensive training in evidence-based techniques like CBT, DBT, and CPT, along with specialized expertise in trauma treatment and advanced certification in the Gottman Method for Couples Therapy. If you're a survivor of narcissistic abuse, Patrick has specific training to help you set boundaries, reclaim your power, and rebuild your sense of self. Patrick recently completed his Certified Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician training. His focus is on helping clients reframe negative thought patterns and learn to live more fully in the present moment, free from the weight of the past.
Silvia's Story
Silvia's professional background is rooted in holistic, community-based, and multicultural care. Also a graduate of Cambridge College, Silvia holds a Master's in Art Therapy from Brazil, where she began her career helping families and children in underserved communities. Her experience in the United States includes working with children in Somerville Public Schools, providing in-home therapy in Malden, and offering integrated behavioral health care at Cambridge Health Alliance, all of which gave her a deep, nuanced understanding of family dynamics and the unique needs of diverse populations.
As a bi-cultural and trilingual therapist fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, Silvia is uniquely positioned to serve multicultural communities across our service areas. She adopts a holistic approach that honors the full person: mind, body, and spirit, incorporating mindfulness, self-compassion practices, and body awareness alongside evidence-based modalities like CBT and trauma-informed care. Her goal is to help you develop a stronger, kinder relationship with yourself while building the skills you need to navigate life's challenges.
Both Patrick and Silvia are proud members of the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association and are committed to ongoing professional development and the highest ethical standards of care.
We Remove the Barriers to Getting Help
Individuals across Massachusetts trust Between Us Counseling because we tackle the biggest barriers to quality mental health care head-on.
First, we have a clear focus on career and life transitions
This means we're specifically equipped to support busy adults facing job changes, relationship stress, professional burnout, and the general anxiety that comes with navigating life's major shifts, an area often completely neglected by providers who focus only on severe clinical disorders. If you're successful on paper but struggling on the inside, we get it, and we're here for that.
Second, we're committed to financial transparency and flexible care
We reduce anxiety about costs by accepting major insurance plans like Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and United Healthcare, and we offer sliding scale options when needed. We're always upfront about what things cost—no surprises, no hidden fees. We also offer genuine flexibility, with sessions available both in person at our comfortable Stoneham office and conveniently through secure online video telehealth from anywhere in Massachusetts.
By combining high-level clinical skill with a compassionate, personalized approach, we ensure you feel truly cared for and heard, which is what leads to successful, lasting mental health and real quality of life improvements. Learn more about our services and find the support that's right for you.